Dostoevsky and the Dynamics of Religious Experience (Anthem Series on Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies)

'Dostoevsky and the Dynamics of Religious Experience' deals with the religious dimension of the novelist’s life and fiction. The book is structured through six clearly defined and self-reliant essays that take into account past and current criticism and offers a close textual analysis on Dostoevsky's works, including 'The Double', 'Notes from Underground', 'Crime and Punishment', 'The Idiot', 'The Devils' and an in-depth study of 'The Brothers Karamazov'. This exciting addition to Dostoevsky studies deals with the religious dimension of the novelist's life and fiction. Malcolm Jones takes a fresh reading of Dostoevsky's representation of religion in his fictional world, that allows for both mystery and fear. The author argues that the spiritual map of human experience that Dostoevsky offers includes only the occasional small island of serenity in vast, turbulent oceans of doubt, rebellion, rejection, indifference and disbelief. Dostoevsky is also viewed as an artist, revealing glimpses of salvation through subversive narrative techniques and destabilized, vulnerable characters. Dostoevsky's fictional characters experience the dread of a meaningless void as well as a desperate longing for the restorative binding idea that religion offers.'Dostoevsky and the Dynamics of Religious Experience'offers a balanced and authoritative argument. The book is structured through six clearly defined and self-reliant essays that take into account past and current criticism and offer a close textual analysis of Dostoevsky's works, including'The Double','Notes from Underground','Crime and Punishment','The Idiot','The Devils'and an in-depth study of'The Brothers Karamazov'. This work is a major contribution to the study of Dostoevsky and Russian Literature in Europe, the USA, Russia and throughout the world. This exciting addition to Dostoevsky studies deals with the religious dimension of the novelist's life and fiction. Malcolm Jones takes a fresh reading of Dostoevsky's representation of religion in his fictional world, that allows for both mystery and fear. The spiritual map of human experience that Dostoevsky offers, argues the author, includes only the occasional small island of serenity in vast, turbulent oceans of doubt, rebellion, rejection, indifference and unbelief.Dostoevsky is also viewed as artist, revealing glimpses of salvation through subversive narrative techniques and destabilized, vulnerable characters. Dostoevsky's fictional characters experience the dread of a meaningless void as well as a desperate longing for the restorative binding idea that religion offers.Dostoevsky and the Dynamics of Religious Experience offers a balanced and authoritative argument. The book is structured through six clearly defined and self reliant essays that take into account past and current criticism and offers a close textual analysis on Dostoevsky's works, including The Double, Notes from Underground, Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, The Devils and an in-depth study of The Brothers Karamazov. This work is a major contribution to the study of Dostoevsky and Russian Literature in Europe, the USA, Russia and throughout the world. Front Matter Half Title Series Page Title Copyright Dedication Contents Author's Preface Main Body Essay I. Dostoevsky's Journey of Discovery: A Biographical Introduction Essay II. An Introduction to Current Debate Essay III. Remodelling Religious Consciousness in Dostoevsky's Fiction: The Death and Resurrection of Orthodoxy Essay IV. Dostoevsky's Deconstructive Anxiety Essay V. Religious Polemic in Narrative Form: The Brothers Karamazov Essay VI. Conclusion End Matter Endnotes Select Bibliography Index Dostoevskys journey of religious discovery : a biographical introduction An introduction to current debate Remodelling religious consciousness in Dostoevskys fiction : the death and resurrection of Orthodoxy Dostoevskys deconstructive anxiety Religious polemic in narrative form : The brothers Karamazov Conclusion.